This easy Thai shrimp curry recipe is quick, simple, and there's plenty of sauce for the rice! Ready in less than half an hour.
I love a good coconut sauce, and this coconut shrimp curry doesn't disappoint. I kept this recipe pretty simple so it comes together fast. Shrimp cook very quickly, so once you actually get cooking, it doesn't take long at all. It's also fairly healthy.
It's been a while since I last posted a Thai-inspired recipe, but I do have a few others on here if you are interested like my Thai chicken curry soup, 15 minute Thai green curry soup, this Thai sweet potato curry, or my Thai turkey soup.
I made this Thai shrimp curry for the first time on January 27. I hated the photos so redid them like 2 months later. I hated the second batch of photos even more than the first, so we're using the January photos. I just don't like these photos. The light wasn't even bad that day. Sometimes I am so baffled why things don't turn out how I think they will. It's not like I'm using a different window or board or bowl or camera or anything. I'll probably end up redoing them again sometime. But, as Mark Zuckerberg says, "done is better than perfect", so at least I know the recipe is tasty. -end rant-
I love the contrast between the rich coconut sauce and all the fresh herbs... that's probably my favorite thing about Thai recipes. It's not quite time yet for my garden basil, but it'll be coming soon(ish)... can't wait. The growing season here in Canada isn't exactly long, but I'll take what I can get lol.
How to make Thai shrimp curry
- Prep your shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, run them under cool water until they're fully thawed.
- Sauté the onion for 5 minutes or until softened;
- Stir in the garlic and curry paste until fragrant;
- Stir in the chicken broth and let it boil for a couple of minutes;
- Add in the coconut milk, shrimp, and red pepper;
- Add the lime juice, season with salt & pepper to taste, and add the fresh herbs.
I love serving this Thai curry over white jasmine rice.
Want to make it spicy? Try adding some chopped fresh Thai chilis or some dried red pepper flakes if you have some in your pantry.
What kind of shrimp to use in Thai coconut shrimp curry?
I used 31-40/pound count frozen raw shrimp. You can use smaller or larger shrimp if you want; just adjust cooking time by a minute or two as needed.
Let me know if you've made this easy coconut shrimp curry!
Questions? Ask me in the comments below.

Easy Thai Shrimp Curry
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shrimp thawed, peeled, can remove tails if desired
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 heaped tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 (13.5 fluid ounces) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- Lime juice to taste
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 small handful fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 small handful fresh basil chopped
- Scallions chopped, to taste
Instructions
- If you want to serve this recipe with rice, I suggest getting the rice going prior to starting the curry.
- Add the oil and onion to a soup pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and curry paste and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth and fish sauce. Let it come to a boil and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Reduce the heat and stir in the coconut milk.
- Add the shrimp and red pepper. Let the soup simmer gently (don't let it reach a crazy boil) for 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through.
- Add lime juice to taste (I used 1/2 a lime) and salt & pepper as needed.
- Add the cilantro, basil, and scallions prior to serving. Serve over rice (I love jasmine rice).
Notes
- I used Thai Kitchen brand red curry paste and coconut milk (I prefer it because it's less watery than some other brands I've tried).
- Anything from 3/4 pound to 1 pound of shrimp will work.
- If you want a thicker broth, add less chicken broth.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Angela says
Hey there!!! Could you swap out the red curry for a yellow??
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Hi Angela! Our kitchen has only tested it with red curry, but if you're familiar with the flavor profile of yellow curry paste and have worked with it before, I don't see why not! 🙂
Kay-Ron says
I tried it for the first time and it was great
Natasha says
Fantastic!!
Vanessa says
So flavorful and easy to make. I reduced the curry paste a little bit for the kids and still very yummy. Think next time I will reduce the chicken broth so it comes out a bit thicker.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
So glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Juliette Gilbert says
Made this tonight exactly as the recipe said. Was delicious quick and easy
Natasha says
Fantastic! Thank you.
Elizabeth A says
I recently came across your blog from someone on IG sharing one of your recipes. This is the 2nd recipe I’ve made of yours and I’m excited to browse more of your recipes! A bit watery so next time I will reduce the broth. I added zucchini instead of red bell pepper. Overall, easy and tasty dish. This will probably become one of our regular rotation meals.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it, Elizabeth!! 🙂 Thanks for following along. Let me know if you try anything else!
Emily says
One of our weekly go to meals! We add tons of other veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, green beans or whatever else we have on hand) we also sub jasmine rice for cauliflower and its delish!!!
Natasha says
Excellent!! I'm so glad you enjoy it, Emily.
Helen says
Deeeelish, easy and fast.
Natasha says
🙂
Greer Leisz says
Super easy to make and great flavor. I served over jasmine rice and steamed spinach. Enough for 2 dinner portions tonight and 2 lunch sized portions for another day.
Natasha says
Excellent!! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Greer!
Medeia says
Easy and delicious and made 4 hardy and very enjoyed portions. Thank you!
Natasha says
Wonderful! You're welcome! 🙂
Tan B says
I made this for dinner today, it was very different for us just had to add a little cornstarch. I was delicious 😋.
Natasha says
Yay!
Elena says
My boyfriend and I loved this recipe!! Definitely will be making it again. Thank you!!
Natasha says
Wonderful! You're welcome! 🙂
Ana says
I'm not a spice person but this was just amazing.
Natasha says
That's wonderful!
marcello says
Can I use curry powder and a rue instead of a paste?
Natasha says
Is it like a Thai curry powder? If so then I think that should be fine. Can’t say I’ve tried it, though. Let me know how it goes!
Marcello says
Well making a rue with red curry powder powder did a good job next time I will add a bit more curry powder and chilli powder to add some more spiciness.
Ben says
Made this the other night and it was absolutely delicious...I'm going to make it again, and throw in some Chorizo and Mussels...
Natasha says
So glad you liked it, Ben!! Love the chorizo and mussels idea... yum.
Connie says
For non seafood people, absolutely substitute chicken for the shrimp! Use tenders or breasts in bite size pieces.
For fish lovers, consider a piece of halibut or scallops too. Simply poach 4-6 minutes or so right in the sauce, depending on size of piece.
Natasha says
Good advice!
Connie says
Added 1 T. dark brown sugar
Omitted the peppers (husband hates them)
Substituted with sliced shiitake mushrooms and sugar snap peas.
Fabulous, velvety sauce and so colorful.
Natasha says
Excellent!
Leslie says
Good flavor but a little too much broth. I would cut the broth altogether and add some chili garlic paste for a little heat. Added snap peas with the red peppers and added carrots with the onions.
Adam says
Made this in my restaurant.. it was a huge hit
Natasha says
Great! Thanks! Be sure to send your guests my way... 😉
Melinda says
Yummy! I didn’t have red curry paste so I used green curry paste. It was really good. I was hoping for leftovers but wasn’t going to happen.
Natasha says
So happy it worked out, Melinda!! Thanks for leaving me a comment. 🙂
Julia says
We loved this so much! Thank you for an amazing recipe. I’m making it again this week because my kids loved it and we want to test it how it will work in thermoses before school starts 🤗
Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Natasha says
Fabulous!! Thanks for letting me know!
Jackie says
Yum! I want to make this tomorro, looks delicious. Is there something that I can use to replace fish sauce? (To avoid buying a title for just one dish) would it be bad if I omitted it?
Natasha says
Hi Jackie! I'd just omit it. It'll taste a little less authentic, but it'll still be good. I can't really think of a good substitute, just make sure to add enough salt to the dish. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Denise Andrews says
Delicious! Used oyster sauce as I didn't have any fish sauce, and spinach as I also didn't have any peppers. I made cauliflower rice to go with it. It was really tasty!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you were able to adapt it!!
Jackie Herrero says
Yum! I want to make this tomorrow, looks great. Is there something I can use to substitute fish sauce? (So I don’t have to buy a whole bottle for just one dish) would it be bad if I just omitted it?
Thank you in advance!
Deitra says
Delicious
Natasha says
So glad you liked it! 🙂
Quin says
Yum, this shrimp curry sounds and looks incredible. Definitely on my list for this weekend! So glad I saw this on Foodgawker 🙂
Natasha says
Hope you like it, Quin! 🙂
Libby Dilg says
Super easy and very flavorful! Loved this! My boys (4 and 6yrs) both ate it up. My husband did not. Lol! Can’t get that man to like seafood. But 3 out of 4 is still a definite win! Passed this recipe along to my mom friends too. Thank you!
Natasha says
Haha well... I guess you can't win 'em all! So glad the boys liked it at least hehe. Thanks for leaving me a comment and passing the recipe along! 🙂
Natasha's Sister says
Hi can you make this for me without shrimp? Thx
Natasha says
No.
Mark says
Made this tonight and it was delicious. The only variation that we changed was we a couple of Thai Birds sliced in with the red pepper. And it was served it over Brown rice.
This will be a keeper base recipe to add and change up a little for a yummy seafood stew.
Natasha says
That is awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Diana Strain says
Make this without shrimp? I would just substitute chicken.Iknow this because I have a son with fish phobia.
Natasha says
Sure! I don’t see why not.